Echocardiogram in cardiac arrest

Description

Point-of-care echocardiography during cardiac arrest identifies reversible causes and guides resuscitation efforts. Key applications include detecting pericardial tamponade, massive pulmonary embolism, and severe hypovolemia in pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Cardiac standstill indicates true asystole versus fine ventricular fibrillation. Echo assesses cardiac contractility, chamber sizes, and wall motion during CPR cycles. The subcostal view is preferred as it doesn't interrupt chest compressions. Findings directly influence treatment decisions: tamponade requires pericardiocentesis, pulmonary embolism may need thrombolysis, and hypovolemia requires aggressive fluid resuscitation. This rapid diagnostic tool significantly improves outcomes by enabling targeted therapy for underlying pathophysiology.